2022 United States Senate election in Kentucky
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Nominee Rand Paul Charles Booker
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 913,326 564,311
Percentage 61.80% 38.19%
County results
Paul:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Booker:      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Rand Paul
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Rand Paul
Republican

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The 2022 United States Senate election in Kentucky was held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent Kentucky. Incumbent Republican Rand Paul won reelection to a third term, defeating Democratic nominee Charles Booker.

Paul was first elected in 2010 with 56% of the vote, filling the seat of retiring Jim Bunning, then re-elected in 2016 with 57% of the vote. Paul ran for a third term.[1] Booker is a former state representative and a candidate in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in 2020. The election was called for Paul shortly after polls closed in the state.[2]

This was the biggest landslide victory for a U.S. Senate race in Kentucky since Mitch McConnell's win in 2002. However, Paul slightly underperformed Donald Trump's performance in the state in 2020, with Booker outperforming Joe Biden by about 2%.

Background

Although Rand Paul supports a Constitutional amendment limiting Senators to two terms, he said, "I'm not in favor of term limits for some and not others. So I'm not in favor of people self-imposing term limits. I'm a co-sponsor of the constitutional amendment, but I will run again in 2022."[1] Kentucky held its primary election on May 17.[3]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Endorsements

Rand Paul
Executive Branch officials
Statewide officials
Organizations

Results

Results by county:
  Paul
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  •   90–100%
Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rand Paul (incumbent) 333,051 86.35%
Republican Valerie Frederick 14,018 3.63%
Republican Paul V. Hamilton 13,473 3.49%
Republican Arnold Blankenship 10,092 2.62%
Republican Tami Stanfield 9,526 2.47%
Republican John Schiess 5,538 1.44%
Total votes 385,698 100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Declined

Endorsements

Charles Booker
U.S. Senators
U.S. Representatives
Labor unions
Organizations
Individuals

Results

Results by county:
  Booker
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  Blanton
  •   40–50%
  Merrill
  •   60–70%
Democratic primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles Booker 214,245 73.29%
Democratic Joshua Blanton Sr. 30,980 10.60%
Democratic John Merrill 28,931 9.90%
Democratic Ruth Gao 18,154 6.21%
Total votes 292,310 100.0%

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[33] Solid R November 19, 2021
Inside Elections[34] Solid R January 7, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball[35] Safe R November 3, 2021
Politico[36] Solid R October 18, 2022
RCP[37] Safe R January 10, 2022
Fox News[38] Solid R May 12, 2022
DDHQ[39] Solid R July 20, 2022
538[40] Solid R June 30, 2022
The Economist[41] Safe R September 7, 2022

Endorsements

Rand Paul (R)
Executive Branch officials
U.S. Senators
U.S. Representatives
Statewide officials
Sheriffs
Organizations
Charles Booker (D)
U.S. Senators
U.S. Representatives
Statewide officials
Newspapers
Labor unions
Organizations
Individuals

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Rand
Paul (R) 		Charles
Booker (D) 		Undecided
Mason-Dixon January 19–22, 2022 625 (RV) ± 4.0% 55% 39% 6%
Hypothetical polling
Rand Paul vs. generic Democrat
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Rand
Paul (R) 		Generic
Democrat 		Undecided
Mason-Dixon February 1–4, 2021 625 (RV) ± 4.0% 47% 41% 12%

Results

2022 United States Senate election in Kentucky[57]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rand Paul (incumbent) 913,326 61.80% +4.53%
Democratic Charles Booker 564,311 38.19% -4.54%
Write-in 193 0.01% +0.01%
Total votes 1,477,830 100.0% N/A
Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

Paul won 5 of 6 congressional districts.[58]

District Paul Booker Representative
1st 71% 29% James Comer
2nd 68% 32% Brett Guthrie
3rd 40% 60% John Yarmuth (117th Congress)
Morgan McGarvey (118th Congress)
4th 66% 34% Thomas Massie
5th 75% 25% Hal Rogers
6th 54% 46% Andy Barr

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

References

  1. ^ a b c Dean, Kelly (February 25, 2021). "Sen. Rand Paul discusses upcoming plans for re-election 2022". WBKO. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  2. ^ "Rand Paul reelected for third term". WKYT. November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  3. ^ WLKY Digital Team (May 10, 2022). "Voter guide: Kentucky primary election 2022". Wlky.com. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  4. ^ "Sen. Rand Paul announces he has filed for re-election". WBKO. January 5, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Election Candidate Filings". Kentucky Secretary of State. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  6. ^ "Kentucky Secretary of State - Candidate Filings". Kentucky Secretary of State - Candidate Filings. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Kobin, Bill (April 9, 2021). "Donald Trump endorses Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul for 2022 reelection". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "I was proud to speak at Senator @RandPaul's campaign kickoff event in Oldham County tonight! Let's Stand with Rand & help send a Republican Senate Majority to D.C. this year". Twitter. April 30, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "FreedomWorks for America Endorses Rand Paul in the Kentucky U.S. Senate Race". www.freedomworksforamerica.org. August 25, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Club for Growth PAC Endorsed Candidates". Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Turning Point Action". Turning Point Action - Endorsements. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  12. ^ a b "May 17, 2022 Official 2022 Primary Election Results" (PDF). Secretary of State of Kentucky. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  13. ^ "It's official: Charles Booker will run for Senate again, this time against Rand Paul". WLKY. July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  14. ^ "Ruth Gao announces U.S. Senate run in Kentucky, aims to become 'first millennial woman Senator'". WLEX-TV. June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  15. ^ Smith, Lawrence. "Democrats begin lining up for right to challenge Sen. Rand Paul". WDRB. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  16. ^ "Political Notebook: Could Rocky Adkins be Kentucky's Joe Manchin in 2022 Senate race?". Lexington Herald-Leader. April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  17. ^ "Room for a Moderate Democrat in 2022 U.S. Senate Primary". Kentucky Fried Politics. July 9, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  18. ^ a b Breon Martin (May 2, 2021). "US Sen. Bernie Sanders holds rally with Charles Booker in Louisville". WDRB.
  19. ^ a b Morgan Watkins (July 26, 2021). "Sen. Elizabeth Warren endorses Charles Booker in bid for Rand Paul's Senate seat". Courier Journal.
  20. ^ a b "Rep. John Yarmuth backs Charles Booker in his bid to unseat Sen. Rand Paul". The Courier-Journal. November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  21. ^ a b Craig, Berry (March 4, 2022). "State AFL-CIO backs Booker, McGarvey". Forward Kentucky. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  22. ^ a b c d "Charles Booker picks up major union endorsement in run for U.S. Senate". WLKY. July 21, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  23. ^ a b "Our Recommended Candidates". educationvotes.nea.org. National Education Association.
  24. ^ a b "BNC Endorses Charles Booker!". Brand New Congress. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  25. ^ a b Simpson, Yvette (July 1, 2021). "Democracy for America : DFA backs Charles Booker for 2022 Senate rematch in Kentucky". democracyforamerica.com. Democracy for America.
  26. ^ a b "Endorsed Candidates". indivisible.org. Indivisible. September 21, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  27. ^ a b "LCV ACTION FUND ANNOUNCES FIRST ROUND OF NON-INCUMBENT SENATE ENDORSEMENTS". www.lcv.org. February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  28. ^ a b "Planned Parenthood Action Fund Endorsed Candidates". www.plannedparenthoodaction.org. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  29. ^ a b "Our Candidates". Working Families Party.
  30. ^ a b "Endorsements". March On. December 6, 2021.
  31. ^ a b "Sunrise Movement endorses progressive Democrats Summer Lee, Nida Allam and Erica Smith for Congress". March 24, 2022. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  32. ^ a b Scott Recker (October 15, 2021). "Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump Endorses Charles Booker For Senate". LEO Weekly.
  33. ^ "2022 Senate Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  34. ^ "Senate ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  35. ^ "2022 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  36. ^ "Kentucky Senate Race 2022". Politico. April 1, 2022.
  37. ^ "Battle for the Senate 2022". RCP. January 10, 2022.
  38. ^ "2022 Election Forecast". Fox News. May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  39. ^ "2022 Election Forecast". DDHQ. July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  40. ^ "2022 Election Forecast". FiveThirtyEight. June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  41. ^ "The Economist's 2022 Senate Election forecast". The Economist. September 18, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  42. ^ Kobin, Bill (July 15, 2022). "Biden Drops Plan to Name Anti-Abortion Lawyer Backed by McConnell as Judge". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2022. Mr. McConnell said he backed Mr. Paul's re-election bid this year.
  43. ^ "Paul and Barr speak at Republican 'Boots and Bluegrass' event". www.richmondregister.com. October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  44. ^ "Senator Rand Paul, Ag. Commissioner Ryan Quarles visit Hopkinsville". whopam.com. October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  45. ^ a b c d e f "DR. RAND PAUL RECEIVES ENDORSEMENT FROM OWENSBORO AREA SHERIFFS, RELEASES AD ON DEFENDING LAW ENFORCEMENT". randpaul.com. October 11, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  46. ^ Storm, Nick (September 12, 2022). "Rand Paul Endorsed by KY Fraternal Order of Police". www.kentuckyfried.com. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  47. ^ "CCAGW PAC Endorses Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and Four House Candidates". finance.yahoo.com. October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  48. ^ "NRA-PVF - Grades - Kentucky". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  49. ^ a b c d e f g h "Rand Paul's Ratings and Endorsements". justfacts.votesmart.org. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  50. ^ "Charles Booker's primary win was historic. But his Senate run against Rand Paul faces a tough road ahead". May 23, 2022.
  51. ^ a b c d e Storm, Nick (September 1, 2022). "Charles Booker Endorsed by Gov. Beshear & Former KY Governors". www.kentuckyfried.com.
  52. ^ "The Herald-Leader endorses Charles Booker for Senate". amp.kentucky.com. October 21, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  53. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Charles Booker's Ratings and Endorsements". justfacts.votesmart.org. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  54. ^ "Congressional Endorsements". Sierra Club Independent Action.
  55. ^ "NARAL Pro-Choice America Endorses Charles Booker for U.S. Senate in Kentucky". NARAL Pro-Choice America. August 23, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  56. ^ "LegalizeKY".
  57. ^ "November 8, 2022 - Official 2022 General Election Results" (PDF). Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  58. ^ Results. docs.google.com (Report).

External links

Official campaign websites
(2021 โ†) ย  2022 United States elections ย  (โ†’ 2023)
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